2018 Jeep Cherokee
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Power train is the leading concern among 686 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 8th highest complaint count among 12 Cherokee model years with reports.
Of the 2018 reports, 11 involved a crash and 5 involved a fire. 7 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Power trainApr 29, 2025
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Jeep Cherokee vehicles. The power transfer unit (PTU) may become damaged and disengage the transmission and differential, resulting in a loss of drive power and/or loss of park function.
A loss of drive power can increase the risk of a crash. A loss of park function can cause an unintended vehicle rollaway, which can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
Dealers will update the drivetrain control module and PTU software and replace the PTU, as necessary free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning February 19, 2026. Owners may contact FCA customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA's number for this recall is 01C.
Campaign 25V011000 on NHTSA.gov
Electrical system, wiring, front underhoodAug 9, 2018
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018 Jeep Renegade, Compass and Grand Cherokee, RAM 1500 and Promaster, Fiat 500x, Dodge Journey, Challenger, Charger and Durango and Chrysler 300x vehicles, 2017-2018 Jeep Wrangler, Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town and Country vehicles and 2018-2019 Jeep Cherokee and 2018 Chrysler Pacifica and Pacifica Hybrid vehicles. The powertrain control module may be equipped with a voltage regulator chip in the circuit board that may fail, causing a stall or a no start condition.
A vehicle stall can increase the risk of a crash.
Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the powertrain control module, free of charge. The recall began October 2, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U87.
Campaign 18V524000 on NHTSA.gov
Power train, axle assembly, axle shaftJul 26, 2018
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018 Jeep Cherokee all-wheel-drive vehicles. The bearing cage for the right front halfshaft assembly may not have been properly heat treated, possibly resulting in the bearing cage breaking and a potential halfshaft assembly failure.
If the halfshaft bearing cage breaks, the halfshaft may not be able to transmit engine power, causing a loss of drive or it can allow the vehicle to move while in the "Park" position. Either condition may increase the risk of a crash.
Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front right halfshaft assemblies, free of charge. The recall began September 20, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U78.
Campaign 18V494000 on NHTSA.gov
Electrical system, wiringMay 17, 2018
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Dodge Journey, Charger and Durango, RAM 2500, 3500, 3500 Cab Chassis (more than 10,000lb), 4500 Cab Chassis and 5500 Cab Chassis, Jeep Cherokee and Grand Cherokee and Chrysler 300, 2014-2019 RAM 1500, 2015-2018 Dodge Challenger, 2015-2017 Chrysler 200, 2016-2018 RAM 3500 Cab Chassis (less than 10,000 lb), 2017-2018 Chrysler Pacifica and 2018 Jeep Wrangler vehicles. These vehicles are being recalled to address a defect that could prevent the cruise control system from disengaging. If, when using cruise control, there is a short circuit within the vehicle's wiring, the driver may not be able to shut off the cruise control either by depressing the brake pedal or manually turning the system off once it has been engaged, resulting in either the vehicle maintaining its current speed or possibly accelerating.
If the vehicle maintains its speed or accelerates despite attempts to deactivate the cruise control, there would be an increased risk of a crash.
Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the software, and perform a software flash on the engine or powertrain control module, free of charge. The recall began June 4, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Note: Owners are advised to stop using cruise control until the software update has been performed. In the event that cruise control cannot be disengaged while driving, owners should firmly and steadily apply the brakes and shift the transmission to neutral, placing the vehicle in park once it has stopped.
Campaign 18V332000 on NHTSA.gov
Fuel system, gasoline, delivery, hoses, lines/piping, and fittingsMay 1, 2018
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018 Jeep Cherokee vehicles equipped with a 2.4L engine. These vehicles may have been manufactured with a fuel tube that may leak fuel into the engine compartment.
A fuel leak in the presence of the ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the fuel tube, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began May 24, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U39.
Campaign 18V282000 on NHTSA.gov
Engine and engine cooling, engineOct 24, 2017
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018 Jeep Cherokee and Compass vehicles equipped with 2.4L engines. The engines may have a cracked oil pump housing that can result in oil pump failure.
If the oil pump fails, the engine will stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the oil pump, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began December 5, 2017. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is T65.
Campaign 17V670000 on NHTSA.gov
Equipment, other, labelsAug 31, 2017
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Jeep Cherokee vehicles. The tire and rim size information required to be on the Certification label was omitted during manufacturing, which may result in an incorrect tire and rim combination being installed on the vehicle. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
The missing tire and rim designation information may lead to an incorrect combination being installed on the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Chrysler will notify owners and will provide a corrected certification label, free of charge. The recall began October 13, 2017. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is T53.
Campaign 17V543000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: electrical system
190 reports, newest first. Show all
Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Fuel/propulsion system, Oct 15, 2019
STARTING ISSUES BATTERY WILL NOT STAY CHARGED NO HELP FROM DEALERSHIP .OR ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE
Electrical system, Oct 6, 2019
THE SERVICE SHIFTER LIGHT HAS GONE OFF TURNING ON ALL LIGHTS ON THE GEAR RED. EVER SINCE IT CAME UP IT WILL KEEP COMING UP.
Electrical system, Engine, Sep 30, 2019
SERVICE SHIFTER ON CAR DISPLAY
Electrical system, Engine, Sep 26, 2019
STARTED CAR AND PUT INTO DRIVE. STARTED DRIVING SERVICE SHIFTER CAME UP. ALL THE LIGHTS IN MY SHIFTER LIT UP.
Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Other or unspecified, Sep 24, 2019
SINCE ABOUT 18K MILES ON VEHICLE I HAVE BEEN REPORTING ISSUES WITH THE SHIFTING, TRANSMISSION. NOW THAT THE VEHICLE IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY THEY SUDDENLY THINK THEY KNOW WHAT WILL FIX IT. BUT I NOW HAVE TO PAY ALMOST $800 TO GET IT FIXED.
Electrical system, Sep 20, 2019
SERVICE SHIFTER LIGHT CAME ON IN MY 2018 JEEP CHEROKEE ONLY HAD 9 MILES WHEN PURCHASED... THIS HAPPENED WHEN SITTING IN DRIVE THRU AT DUNKIN' DONUTS THIS MORNING
Power train, Electrical system, Service brakes, Sep 16, 2019
DRIVING DOWN A CITY HIGHWAY THE SERVICE SHIFTER ALERT CAME ON. ALL OF THE LIGHTS NEXT TO THE INDICATORS ON THE SHIFTER LIT UP. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE SO FAR TODAY. THE PARKING BRAKE HAS ALSO BEEN TURNING ITSELF ON AS SOON AS THE JEEP IS PUT IN GEAR AND THE FOOT IS LET OFF OF THE BRAKE.
Power train, Electrical system, Sep 12, 2019
2018 JEEP 22000 MILES, HAS CONTINUED AND WORSENING SHIFTIER OR TRANSMISSION ISSUE WITH RED LIGHTS, NEEDS SERVICE AND LOCKS OUT TRANSMISSION CHANGES TO REGULATE SPEED. THIS HAS BEEN AT THE TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS WITH AN ONGOING SAFETY ISSUE. I AM A RETIRED NICB SPECIAL AGENT AND HAVE WORKED AUTO THEFT.
Power train, Electrical system, Aug 22, 2019
SERVICE SHIFTER LIGHTS AND WARNING COME ON RANDOMLY WHEN DRIVING. WHEN THE ERROR MESSAGE IS DISPLAYED, THERE IS NO WAY TO GET RID OF IT EXCEPT TURNING VEHICLE OFF AND ON. THE ERROR MESSAGE TAKES UP THE ENTIRE IN DASH SCREEN AND DOES NOT ALLOW FOR THE DIGITAL SPEEDOMETER TO BE SHOWN. THERE DOES NOT SEEM TO BE A PATTERN AS TO WHEN THIS OCCURS, HAS HAPPENED WHEN STARTING UP AND JUST RANDOMLY WHILE DRIVING (NOT SPECIFICALLY LINKED WITH A SPEED, DIRECTION, OR TURN).
Power train, Electrical system, Aug 21, 2019
THE "SERVICE SHIFTER" WARNING MESSAGE APPEARS IN THE "MESSAGE SCREEN" & YOU CANNOT CLEAR IT SO THE MPH & OTHER NEEDED DRIVING DATA IS UNAVAILABLE. ALSO ALL OF THE SHIFTER LIGHTS BECOME ILLUMINATED SO YOU CANNOT SEE WHAT GEAR THE TRANSMISSION IS IN. "CARGURUS.COM" HAS A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS SAFETY ISSUE. CAR IS IN MOTION & STATIONARY;.THE SHIFTER SERVICE MESSAGE APPEARS. IT 1ST OCCURRED YESTERDAY; 8/19/2019 TO ME. THIS IS A SAFET ISSUE BECAUSE MY MPH ETC IS UNAVAILABLE & I CANNOT VERIFY GEAR I AM IN. (DRIVE/REVERSE ETC)
Electrical system, Aug 13, 2019
SERVICE SHIFTER RANDOMLY POPS UP AND ALL LIGHTS ON SHIFTER GO RED HAPPENED OUT OF NOWHERE AND GOES AWAY U FOUND HUNDREDS OF NOT THOUSANDS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM!
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Aug 8, 2019
SERVICE SHIFTER MESSAGE KEEPS APPEARING ON THE DASH AND ALL OF THE LIGHTS ON THE SHIFTER WILL TURN RED. HAS BEEN HAPPENING AT LEAST ONCE A DAY (SOMETIMES 4-5 TIMES) AND TYPICALLY HAPPENS WHEN I HIT A BUMP (NO MATTER HOW SMALL OR BIG). IT CAN ALSO SOMETIMES HAPPEN WHEN YOU TAP THE SIDE OF THE CONSOLE. FORUMS ONLINE SUGGEST THAT THE ISSUE IS HAPPENING BECAUSE THE WIRES FROM THE SHIFTER KEEP BUMPING INTO CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND SHORTING (HTTPS://WWW.CARGURUS.COM/CARS/DISCUSSION-T68742_DS990296). I AM STILL ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR WHEN IT HAPPENS, BUT IT IS INCREDIBLY ANNOYING BECAUSE I CANNOT SEE ANYTHING ON THE DASHBOARD.
Electrical system, Aug 7, 2019
THE BATTERY CONSTANTLY DIES WITHOUT ANY REASONING. I WILL PARK IT, AFTER IT SITS OVERNIGHT, IT DIES. MY NEIGHBOR HAS THE SAME YEAR MODEL JEEP I HAVE AND HIS STARTED DOING THE SAME THING LAST WEEK. AFTER SEARCHING ONLINE IT SEEMS TO BE A MAJOR ISSUE WITH 20Q7,2018 AND 2019 JEEP CHEROKEES.
Power train, Electrical system, Jul 29, 2019
"SERVICE SHIFTER" WARNING COMES ON AT RANDOM TIMES. LIGHTS ON SHIFTER ALL CAME ON. ONLY CAME ON WITH LEFT HAND TURNS. FIRST TIME IN HAPPENED I WAS ON AN INTERSTATE ON RAMP. HAS HAPPENED AT 5 MPH AND 70 MPH. PULL OVER PUT IN PARK, SHUT OFF ENGINE, WAIT A MINUTE, RESTART VEHICLE AND EVERYTHING IS FINE FOR A WHILE. IT CAN BE DAYS BETWEEN OR 3 TIMES IN A 5 MINUTE DRIVE. UP TO 9 TIMES IT HAS HAPPENED.
Power train, Electrical system, Jul 26, 2019
SERVICE SHIFTER WARNING KEEPS COMING ON AND ALL PARK NUTURAL REV ALL LIGHT UP AT THE SAME TIME.TRANSMISSION BUCKS FEELS LIKE BEING REAR ENDED.BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP MANY TIMES GOING TO KEEP GOING BACK WHILE IM STILL UNDER WARRANTY.HAPPENS STATIONARY AND WHILE DRIVING MOSTLY ON THE FREEWAY WHERE YOU HAVE TO PULL OVER TURN OFF AND TRY TO LET IT RESET.A DANGEROUS SITUATION.
Electrical system, Jul 22, 2019
I WAS DRIVING UP THE INTERSTATE AND I HEARD A DING. THE DISPLAY SAID " SERVICE SHIFTER" AND ALL THE LIGHTS ON MY GEAR SHIFT PNRD WERE ALL LIT UP RED. COULD NOT CLEAR DISPLAY. PARKED AND TURNED IGNITION OFF AND BACK ON AND IT CLEARED.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Jul 20, 2019
WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET TO GET TO THE HIGHWAY ALMOST 5 HOURS AWAY FROM MY HOUSE MY DASH SCREEN POPPED UP WITH A WARNING SAYING THAT MY SHIFTER NEEDED SERVICED... WHEN I LOOKED AT THE GEAR SHIFTER ALL OF THE LIGHTS WERE LIT UP(P,R,N&D)...I FREAKED OUT AND PULLED OFF AT A GAS STATION PUT IT IN PARK TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND WAITED A MINUTE... WHEN I STARTED THE CAR BACK UP ALL OF THE LIGHTS SHUT OFF AND IT WAS FINE... I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT CAUSED IT TO HAPPEN IT LITERALLY HAPPENED OUT OF NOWHERE...
Electrical system, Seats, Jul 18, 2019
THE 'SERVICE SHIFTER' WAS DISPLAYED ON THE DASHBOARD AND ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE SHIFTER WERE ON. I HAD TO SHUT OFF THE CAR AND TURN IT BACK ON TO MAKE THE LIGHTS GO OFF, BUT AFTER A FEW MILES THE LIGHTS CAME BACK ON. THE DRIVER SEAT POWER SWITCH HAS STOPPED WORKING TWO TIMES. I HAD IT REPLACED THE FIRST TIME AND NOT EVEN A YEAR LATER IT STOPPED WORKING AGAIN.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Jul 12, 2019
"SERVICE SHIFTER" APPEARED ON MY DASHBOARD. THE GEARS ALL WENT RED. THE CAR WAS ABLE TO MOVE AS NORMAL, BUT THE MESSAGE WAS STILL THERE. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTED AND THE MESSAGE WENT AWAY.
Steering, Electrical system, Service brakes, Jul 9, 2019, crash
I WAS COMPLETING A TURN WHEN THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER AND SHUT COMPLETELY OFF CAUSING ME TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND HIT A CURB. VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO DEALERSHIP WHERE I WAS ADVISED THIS HAPPENED DUE TO A SAFETY FEATURE OF MY CAR . WHEN THE CAR IS LOW ON OIL WHEN YOU TURN IT THROWS OFF THE OIL PRESSURE SENSOR SO THE ENGINE DOESN'T BLOW UP . MY LAST OIL CHANGE WAS IN FEB MY CAR IS COMPLETELY OUT OF OIL AND NO CHECK OIL LIGHT APPEARED .
Electrical system, Jun 7, 2019
MY SHIFTER CAME ON WHILE IN PARK WITH THE PARK, REVERSE, NUETRAL, AND DRIVE ALL LIGHTING UP. HAVE SEEN THIS AS AN ISSUE IN OTHER LATER YEARS BUT, I BELIEVE THERE IS A MALFUNCTION SOMEWHERE WITHIN THE ELECTRICAL OR SOMETHING. MY CAR IS NEW WITH LOW MILES THIS SHOULDN'T BE HAPPENING.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Jun 5, 2019
RECIEVED A "SERVICE SHIFTER" MESSAGE AND ALL THE LIGHTS NEAR THE SHIFTER WERE LUMINATED RED
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Jun 3, 2019
THE SERVICE SHIFTER LIGHT COMES ON AND ALL GEARS ARE SHOWING UP IN RED WHILE DRIVING. TURNING THE VEHICLE OFF THEN BACK ON SETS THE GEAR BACK TO NORMAL FOR ONLY A FEW MINUETS, THEN SERVICE INDICATOR LIGHT COMES BACK ON WITH ALL GEARS ILLUMINATED IN RED. THE JEEP HAS THE TENDENCY TO JERK FORWARD WHEN PLACED INTO PARK AND ALSO DURING ACCELARATION THE TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO LAG CAUSING A JERKING MOTION IN MY JEEP.
Electrical system, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Jun 3, 2019
- 2.4L EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION - NEW ENGINE AT 8K MILES - EMISSIONS ISSUES TRIPPING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT - AIR CONDITIONER WENT OUT - COMPUTER/ELECTRICAL ISSUES WITH DASH AND INTERIOR - TRANSMISSION STALLING IN TRAFFIC. - CANNOT MAINTAIN SPEED WITH CRUISE CONTROL - ONCE PARTS ARE REMOVED FOR REPAIR THEY CANNOT BE REPLACED PROPERLY AND END UP FALLING OFF. FCA AMERICA KNOW ABOUT ALL THESE ISSUES AND CONTINUES TO PRODUCE THESE CARS AT A PRICE WAY ABOVE THEIR VALUE. BOTTOM LINE THEY ARE A FRAUDULENT BUSINESS THAT IS PRODUCING CRAPPY VEHICLES.
Electrical system, May 18, 2019
SERVICE SHIFTER LIGHT CAME ON AT 11,450 MILES.